Development of the movement:
Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting in the Ivory Coast is carried out under the auspices of Scoutisme Féminin de Côte d’Ivoire, which co-ordinates the activities of the three component Associations: the Association des Guides de Côte d’Ivoire, formed in 1955; the Association des Eclaireuses Unionistes, formed in 1958, and the Association des Eclaireuses Laïques (formerly Les Eclaireurs et Eclaireuses de Côte d’Ivoire) formed in 1937. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are now active throughout the entire country.
Programme:
The programme includes a wide range of activities designed to assist girls in the development of character, civic responsibility and community service.
Relationship to society:
Involvement in the community is central to the activities of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in the Ivory Coast. Members regularly help out at a home for abandoned children. To help alleviate unemployment since 1981 the Associations have aimed their programme of activities at developing projects to provide employment for members.
In urban areas these have included establishing a handicraft workshop, and in rural areas setting up agricultural and livestock projects. These projects aim to make participants aware of their responsibilities to themselves and their families, by keeping them constructively occupied and encouraging them to remain in villages, rather than joining the large number of unemployed people living in urban centres.
Communication and Co-operation
Members are encouraged to become involved in the international aspect of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting whenever possible, by attending gatherings and training camps abroad.
Scoutisme Féminin de Côte d’Ivoire informs the public about its special events through the radio and television. The Association has also developed a good working relationship with the churches.
It works closely with other national organizations which are under the care of the Ministry for Sport and Youth, and is a member of the Fédération Ivoirienne du Scoutisme.
Training:
Each Association emphasizes the need for training, and trainers and leaders are in great demand. The Association des Guides de Côte d’Ivoire has produced a training progress chart to show the different stages to be covered by Girl Guides/Girl Scouts. Regular national and international leadership training camps are held, and a book of technical notes on leadership training has been published.
Outdoor and Environmental Activities
Camping is a regular activity for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in the Ivory Coast and training camps and inter-company camps are held, as well as national and international camps.
Projects
